May 18, 2007
Box Score
EVANSTON, Ill. -
An RBI double in the bottom of the fifth off the bat of sophomore Amber Smith gave Illinois State a 2-1 lead and a perfect throw from senior center fielder Jackie Williams saved the tying run from scoring in the next inning as the No. 25 Illinois State softball team held on to down Notre Dame on Friday afternoon in the first game of the NCAA Regional in Evanston, Ill.
The victory was the eighth of the post-season in the history of the Redbird softball program and pushed their overall record to 43-15-1. Notre Dame fell to the loser's bracket with the loss and move to 31-23 in 2007.
After three full scoreless innings, Notre Dame jumped on the board courtesy of a Redbird error. Third baseman Heather Johnson opened the inning for the Irish with a single to center field as Brittany Glynn came in to take on pinch running duties. Johnson advanced to second on a sacrifice and scored the first run of the ballgame when first baseman Christina Lux hit a routine fly ball to center field. Senior outfielder Jackie Williams misplayed the ball, running in on the hit as the ball caught the top of her glove but continued on into center field. Williams was charged with the error as Glynn crossed and Lux darted to second. Redbird third baseman Kara Nelson made a great play to end the inning, sticking out her glove and grabbing a hard-hit line drive hit in the 5-6 gap.
Illinois State answered in the bottom half of the inning when, with a runner at third base and two outs, Kaprice Williams outran an infield single, settling into first base. Williams' was credited with an RBI when Andrea Shifflet, who was pinch running for Jessie Buker, crossed to tie the game at one apiece.
The `Birds took their first lead of the game after Nelson got on base in her third consecutive at bat to open the bottom of the fifth. Nelson hit the ball hard to Fighting Irish shortstop Katie Laing but Laing was charged with an error, misplaying the ball as Nelson raced to first. Nelson advanced to second on a perfectly-placed Tiffany Prager sacrifice bunt and then scored when Smith laced a double into deep right field. The hit and RBI were the first of the day for Smith as ISU took a 2-1 lead.
Illinois State head coach Melinda Fischer was pleased with a decision that Smith made in her third at bat.
"After her previous at bats, Amber decided to move up in the box and that was a good move for her. She swung at that ball, and it might not have been in her strike zone but she hit it hard into right field, and put it in play for us. I thought that was really great for Amber to do that and we felt a little more comfortable after scoring that second run."
Jackie Williams made up for her earlier error when Notre Dame threatened in the top of the sixth. With a runner on second, Lux, the same batter who reached on Williams' error in the fourth, launched a single to center field. Heather Johnson, the UND base runner, rounded third and headed home but Williams fielded the hit and came up throwing, placing a perfect throw to home plate. Redbird catcher Casey Gorrell tagged Johnson charging from third to home to prevent the tying run.
"Looking at what Jackie did with that ball she bobbled, I think the wind came into play" said Fischer. "We noticed yesterday at practice that the wind was kind of tricky at the field and could push the ball all over the place. I think the wind took the ball and she just couldn't catch up to it. But she really redeemed herself, with that throw that cut the runner down at the plate. Jackie's been doing that for us all season."
Nicholson picked up the win in the circle, improving to 21-6 on the year. The senior right hander scattered six hits, pitching the complete game for the `Birds. Nelson led the team with two hits and a run scored, while Smith recorded 12 putouts at first base, a new ISU defensive record for NCAA regional play.
The Redbirds will take on the winner of the Northwestern-Wright State game at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Sharon J. Drysdale Field.
